Friends of Syria, opposition agree no Assad in future government

After a long day of discussion Tuesday in London between Western and Arab powers and Syrian opposition leaders, the parties collectively announced that President Bashar al-Assad should be excluded from future government positions.

After a long day of discussion Tuesday in London between Western and Arab powers and Syrian opposition leaders, the parties collectively announced that President Bashar al-Assad should be excluded from future government positions, according to AFP. [2]

In an official announcement released after Tuesday's meeting, the Friends of Syria[3], represented by the so-called London 11 (Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States), stated their agreement that "Assad and his close associates with blood on their hands will have no role in [Syria's transitional or future government]. There must be accountability for acts committed during the present conflict."

British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters that the Friends of Syria "are as clear as [the opposition is] that Assad has no role in a peaceful and democratic Syria." Hague also reported that the Friends of Syria reached agreement on "a number of important steps" to encourage the Syrian opposition to fully participate in the proposed peace conference in Geneva next month.